Administrators of career and technical schools are welcoming increases in budget, making it possible to have salaries for tech school instructors tied to the market value of their skills.
In South Dakota, there is now enough money for technical schools to entice instructors from jobs in private industry. Instructor salaries have been raised to market value, which means that a welding instructor will now make a comparable wage to someone working in the industry.
A half cent sales tax was created last year by the legislature to fund teacher salaries. Most of the money goes to K-12 teachers, but a last minute amendment allows for approximately $3 million to be used for the four technical institutes in the state.
Lake are Technical Institute President Mike Cartney says he has a difficult time hiring instructors. He spoke in support of the measure to the State Board of Education.
“It’s not because I can’t find qualified people, but because I can’t pay them,” he told the board.
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